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While earning my Ph.D. at the University of Kansas studying social behavior in prairie dogs three events changed my life. In the third year of my dissertation, plague killed 1,500 prairie dogs in the colonies I was studying, necessitating a much more comparative study of social dynamics in other ground squirrels. Second, I became fascinated with...

I am particularly interested in developing our preeminence in basic plant biology at a time when progress in basic plant biology research is important to critical societal needs including: the development of strategic responses to the effects of climatic change in vital areas including biodiversity maintenance and agriculture; the development of...

Valerie Aymer is a licensed landscape architect and a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects. She received her Master’s in landscape architecture from Cornell University and practiced professionally for over 15 years in Florida, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia working with the notable, international design firms...

I am interested in studying the evolution of the balance in cooperation and conflict within animal socieites and groups of interacting plants. My goal is to elucidate, through both mathematical theory and quantitative test, the general principles governing cooperation and conflict among animals, among plants, among cells within an organism, and...

Colleen Kearns has spent most of her career at Cornell University, first as a scientist and in the last decade, as an advisor and undergraduate program director. Colleen earned her B.S. in Horticulture from Penn State University. Then during her 23 years of Cornell research, she worked in the plant sciences, aquatic ecology and evolutionary biology...

The overarching goal of my current research is to design and optimize cropping systems to enhance resilience against climate change and soil degradation. I also have a keen interest in sustainable weed management practices, particularly in light of the growing challenge of herbicide resistance. As the efficacy of chemical control methods decreases...

Aisha Burton is a molecular microbiologist currently serving as a Provost New Faculty Fellow (2024–2026) at Cornell University. In 2026, she will join the Department of Microbiology as an Assistant Professor. She earned her B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences with a focus in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2012. Afterward, she...

John March is a Professor in the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering and is currently the Director of Undergraduate Studies. His work in cell signaling is focused on reconfiguring biological systems for improved performance in the areas of biomedicine and sustainability. His work attempts to change bacterial or eukaryotic signal...

I am a soil and environmental chemist with interests in the fundamental molecular-scale processes that drive soil function. My research aims to gain a mechanistic understanding of soil processes that increase our science-based knowledge of managed and natural ecosystems that impact soil health and water quality.

About Rebecca Nelson's interests focus on advancing the circular bionutrient economy to enhance the sustainability of agriculture and food systems, with research activities and engagement in Africa, India and New York. Her research group works to value organic underutilized resources (“OURs”). Topics of interest include peecycling implementation in...